Decades of armed conflict and insurgency still plague the lives of people in Thailand’s southernmost regions. Various attempts at peace talks over the years have all failed.
However, one positive development was the appointment of the first female Muslim governor in Pattani province. Pateemoh Sadeeyamu, 57, previously served as the director of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC). Although women were absent from formal peace negotiations, observers believe having her as the head of local government will boost women's groups' hope and confidence in advancing their gender equality activism and peace advocacy. Her leadership style is about bridging divides between communities; she embraces both Muslim and Buddhist communities, young people and seniors, and political and non-political agendas.
Southern Thai Muslims — whose ethnicity, culture and language differ from the Buddhist majority — believe they are treated as second-class citizens. Their struggle received the sympathy of many Malaysians, due to Malaysia’s predominantly Muslim population.
